Current generation of Indian chess players great at grabbing opportunities: Viswanathan Anand

NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand, a chess icon with five world titles to his credit, is gradually transitioning from a world champion competitor to a mentor and sports administrator.
He believes that the current generation of Indian players, whom he has helped shape, has been exceptional in seizing crucial opportunities.
Anand is set to participate in the Tech-Mahindra Global Chess League next month in London as part of the Ganges Grandmasters team.
In an interview with PTI, Anand shared his thoughts on including India's prospects at the upcoming Chess Olympiad, his impressions of the country's Olympic and Paralympic performance, and the golden generation of young players he has mentored.
He credited the success of young talents like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa to their personal coaches and parents, while acknowledging his own role through the Westbridge Anand Academy.
"I am trying my best, certainly being able to start the Westbridge Anand Academy four years back was a nice project. It was inspired by schools I had seen in Soviet Union more than 30-40 years ago.
"I tried to borrow some ideas from multiple places. (At that time) Indians were consistently getting into top 200 but not quite breaking into top 100. The idea was to support the talent and help them get past that stretch.
"I think we have been successful. For us, it is very exciting that Gukesh is already playing the world championships. (But) lots and lots of people are involved, not just WACA but also their parents, their coaches, we try to make sure that we can fit in nicely," he added.
Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and R Vaishali will be representing India at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Anand is optimistic about their chances, hoping for an improvement on the bronze medals won by both the men's and women's teams in the 2022 edition. He emphasized the importance of grabbing opportunities when they arise, which he believes the current generation is doing quite well.
"...let's not forget that last year, they were smelling the gold, they had it in their hands, slipped away in the penultimate round and for the women, it slipped away in the last round. I certainly hope they will rectify it this time...
"...I mean, may be I am hard-wired as a player but I like to take it one step at a time. But if you had to roll the dice, these are pretty good teams to roll with," he said.
Asked what makes the present generation a bigger success story than the likes of Surya Shekhar Ganguly, K Sasikiran and Sandipan Chanda, Anand said it was the ability to grab crucial opportunities.
"But I would point out that many of the previous generation are coaching these youngsters, so in a way, they are responsible for this generation's success.
"...many of them had pretty good careers of their own. They often competed against top players. But you know, sometimes in sports, it's not enough to have the results...when an opportunity comes nearby, you just have to grab it with both hands," he said.
"With Gukesh I think, he positioned himself well in the Candidates. He wasn't the favourite, not experienced. When he was still in with a chance he had done his job. So you have to grab your chance and the current generation is doing it quite well," Anand pointed out.
Anand also discussed the potential for chess to be included in the Olympic Games, either in the Summer or Winter events, or possibly in the E-Sports Games.
"Chess has a very strong case for Olympic inclusion. We have a couple of options, either it's the Summer or the Winter games. But also the E-Sports Games could be an option," said Anand, who is also a deputy President of FIDE, chess' world governing body.
"I tried to catch a lot of great moments. In the Olympics, I think despite having 15 medals as option, we converted fewer than what we would have liked. Whereas in the Paralympics, this is genuinely fantastic," he said referring to the unprecedented 29 medals that the para-athletes snared.
"Their ability to cope and still persevere is quite inspiring. Sheetal's bull's eye, these kinds of moments stay with you," he added.
Semi-retired from the game, Anand said he is looking forward to his GCL stint next month where some top international players such as Magnus Carlsen will also be competing.
Apart from this, Anand said he also hopes to compete in Leon Masters in Spain next year after winning it for a 10th time earlier this year.
"I will play a few events next year. I don't know yet what they are, I hope to play in Spain again. Semi-retired sort of means that I am slowly transitioning out instead of quitting one day, I am pacing myself, " said the icon who finds his administrative role "fascinating."